Animal dryer

ABSTRACT

A blower system to dry dogs or other animals, and designed to give a more forceful volume of air making it possible to separate and fluff the hair. One, two or three motors are available to draw air through a filter system, heat the air, and eject the air outward through hoses attached to a cage or a hand held dryer.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

In the past there has been a real need for a useful, all-purpose dryerthat is used to dry and fluff animals, in a relatively short length oftime. Animal hair, or coat, is generally very thick and there is a lotof it, so most of the time it is a tedious, long drawn out process tokeep the animal passive until its coat can be thoroughly dried. A highvolume, fast moving source of warm air is most important.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to an animal dryer.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The present invention of an animal dryer includes three electric motorswhich may be used separately, or together, to pull air through acontainer with a filter system therein. The motors heat the air andeject it through any of a plurality of outlets that may be connected toan animal cage or to a hand held dryer. The volume and velocity of theejected air is determined by the number of motors operating.

The primary object of the invention is to provide a variable volume,warm air dryer as would be used to dry animals.

Other objects and advantages will become apparent in the followingspecification when considered in light of the attached drawings.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of the cabinet making up the invention;

FIG. 2 is a front elevation view of the air intake end of the invention;

FIG. 3 is a view taken along the line 3--3 of FIG. 1, looking in thedirection of the arrows;

FIG. 4 is a view taken along the line 4--4 of FIG. 3, looking in thedirection of the arrows;

FIG. 5 is a view taken along the line 5--5 of FIG. 4, looking in thedirection of the arrows;

FIG. 6 is a view taken along the line 6--6 of FIG. 4, looking in thedirection of the arrows; and

FIG. 7 is a view taken along the line 7--7 of FIG. 4, looking in thedirection of the arrows.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT

Referring now to the drawings in detail, wherein like referencecharacters indicate like parts throughout the several figures, thereference numeral 10 indicates generally an animal dryer 10 which isincorporated in a cabinet 11.

Cabinet 11 is made of relatively sturdy wood, or other material, and itssides and top, when in place, comprise an essentially air tightcompartment.

Extending across the width of cabinet 11, and fastened to its side wallsthere is a partition 12, the partition 12 being inserted into side walls11 to form an air-tight compartment 13 in the rear of the cabinet.

There are three electric motors 14, 15, and 16 positioned forward ofpartition 12, and bolted to the partition by means of elongated bolts 17and their associated nuts 18. For additional stability bolts 17 passthrough mounting bars 19 that extend along the forward face of all themotors to lock them in place.

Forming part of the motor mountings there are tubular collars 20, 21, 22which extend from motors 14, 15, 16 and fit snugly against partition 12.Within the ends of collars 20, 21, 22 there are spring mounted fluttervalves 23, 24, and 25 that serve to open or close holes 26, 27, and 28cut through partition 12.

The inner ends of collars 20, 21, and 22 are widened out to comprise fanhousings 20A, 21A, and 22A, these housings being larger in diameter thanmotors 20, 21, and 22, which they partially encompass, thereby providingan air passage between the fan housings and the motor bodies (See FIG. 4for a clear view).

Journalled to the rotating shafts of motors 20, 21, and 22 there arefans 20B, 21B, and 22B, these fans being the active force by which airis moved through the invention.

From the drawings it is thus clear an air passage is formed by collars20, 21, and 22, the flutter valves 23, 24, and 25, along with the motorsand fans themselves.

The air-tight compartment 13, between partition 12 and the back wall ofcabinet 11, is built to serve as a filter system, and is filled withfibrous material 26 which strains out dust particles and other foreignsubstances present in the air. The back wall of cabinet 11 has aplurality of circular holes 27 drilled through it to serve as an airimput for filtering and later warming.

The front panel of cabinet 11 has a plurality of outlet fittings 28, 29,and 30 for the passage of warm air to a utilizing hose 31. On the innerside of these fittings there are spring urged flutter valves 32, 33, and34 which pivot inward (as shown by 34) when a hose is inserted therein.

Also on the front panel there are a pair of rheostats 35 and 36,electrically connected to the motors, for determining which of themotors is running and also the speed at which the fans are revolving. Anelectric cable 37 supplies potential to the rheostats and therefore tothe motors.

In the use and operation of the invention, cable 37 is plugged into anelectric outlet to start the device, and a hose 31 is inserted intofitting 30 for withdrawing warmed air. Then, either rheostat 35 or 36,or both, are turned to start motors 14, 15, or 16 depending on thevolume of air required.

If motor 16 is the only one started, for example, then air is drawn inthrough holes 27 in the back of cabinet 11, and it passes through filtermaterial 26 in filtering compartment 13. Through the influence of fan22B, rotating in fan housing 22A, air is pulled along tubular collar 22and causes spring mounted flutter valve 25 to open, thereby openingpassage 28 so that air moves through.

When this is done air moves through fan 22B and is blown through thespacing between fan cover 22A and motor 16 itself, to be blown into theforward end of the cabinet. As stated previously, hose 31 has beeninserted into fitting 30, and the inner end of the hose props openflutter valve 34 so that air moved by the fan now passes out the hose,to be utilized as desired.

It should be noted that the air passing through the fan, etc., blowsdirectly over the motor casing itself, and it is this warm motor casingthat is the heating means for the air.

Also note that rheostats 35 and 36 are connected to all three motors 14,15, and 16 and it is by adjustment of these rheostats that either one,two, or all three of the motors are run simultaneously, and their speedsvaried, depending upon the volume and temperature of the output airdesired. With three output fittings, 28, 29, and 30, one, two, or threehoses may be connected to facilitate use of the air output demanded.

Having thus described the preferred embodiment of the invention itshould be understood that numerous structural modifications andadaptations may be resorted to without departing from the spirit of theinvention.

What is claimed is:
 1. A hair dryer comprising a filter system, meansfor admitting surrounding air to the filter system, a partition having aplurality of openings for directing the air to leave the filter system,a plurality of valves in said openings for selectively permitting theair to leave said openings, a plurality of motors each having an airinlet connected to one of said openings, fans driven by the motors toblow the air past the motors and to thereby warm the air from the heatof the motors, means for collecting the warm air from the motors, andmeans for attachment to the collecting means for conducting warm air toa user.
 2. The device of claim 1 wherein the means for admitting aircomprises a plurality of holes drilled in the outer wall of the filtersystem.
 3. The device of claim 2 further including controls fordetermining the number of motors operating simultaneously to therebyvary the volume of warm air being desired.
 4. The device of claim 3wherein the means for attachment to the collecting means comprises aplurality of fittings for holding flexible hoses.
 5. The device of claim4 wherein the filter system includes a compartment of fibrous material.6. The device of claim 5 wherein the valves for permitting the air toleave the filter include circular, spring mounted disks.
 7. The deviceof claim 6 further including spring mounted disks within the fittingsfor holding flexible hoses, said disks being pushed open when the hosesare inserted in the fittings. .Iadd.
 8. A hair dryer comprising asubstantially airtight compartment, means for admitting surrounding airto said compartment, a partition having a plurality of openings fordirecting the air to said compartment, a plurality of valves in saidopenings for selectively permitting the air to leave said openings, aplurality of motors each having an air inlet connected to one of saidopenings, fans driven by the motors to blow the air past the motors andto thereby warm the air from the heat of the motors, means forcollecting the warm air from the motors, and means for attachment to thecollecting means for conducting warm air to a user. .Iaddend. .Iadd. 9.The hair dryer of claim 8 which additionally comprises filter means forfiltering the air entering said compartment. .Iaddend.